低碳经济是以低能耗、低污染、低排放为基础的经济模式，是人类社会继农业文明、工业文明之后的又一次重大进步。低碳经济的实质是能源高效率利用、清洁能源开发和追求绿色GDP，核心是能源技术和减排技术创新、产业结构和制度创新以及人类生存发展观念的根本性转变，目标是减缓气候变化和促进人类的可持续发展^[2]，提高能源利用效率的低碳技术和清洁能源是低碳经济的支撑点。深圳英语翻译

Low-carbon economy is an economic mode based on low energy consumption, low pollution, and low emission, and another significant progress of the human society following agricultural civilization and industrial civilization. The essence of low-carbon economy is efficient energy use, development of clean energy, and pursuit of green GDP, its core is energy technology and emission reduction technology innovation, industrial structure and institution innovation and fundamental change of the concept of survival and development of humankind^{[4, 5]}, its objective is to slow down the climatic change and enhance the sustainable development of humankind^[2], while the low-carbon technology improving energy utilization efficiency and the clean energy are supporting points of the low-carbon economy.

节能减排指的是降低能源消耗、减少排放污染。“节能”是在能源系统的所有环节，包括开采、加工、转换、输送、分配、到终端利用，从经济、技术、法律、行政、宣传、教育等方面采取有效措施，来消除能源的浪费。“减排”是指减少气体污染物、温室气体、固体废弃物、重金属以及放射性物质等的排放^[6]，节能的环境保护实质就是减排，实现低碳经济的基本措施是节能减排。广州英语翻译

Energy saving and emission reduction refers to reduction of energy consumption and of emission pollution. “Energy saving” means elimination of energy waste by taking effective measures in economy, technology, law, administration, publicity, and education etc. in all links of the energy system from exploitation, processing, conversion, transport, and distribution to end use. “Emission reduction” means reduction of emissions of gaseous pollutants, greenhouse gases, solid wastes, heavy metals, and radioactive substances^[6], so the essence of energy-saving environmental protection is emission reduction, and energy saving and emission reduction is basic measures to realize low-carbon economy.